Saturday, February 19, 2011

The Accidental Billionaires


Book Menu for The Accidental Billionaires: the founding of Facebook: a tale of sex, money, genius and betrayal

Author: Ben Mezrich

ISBN of edition I read: 9780385529372 (hardcover)

This book was adapted into the award-winning film Social Network.  It was a very interesting read, especially for me as I am NOT on Facebook. After reading this book I intend to remain Facebookless for the foreseeable future! I do think this book would be a great choice for a book group, however.  There is lots to discuss.

Food mentioned in The Accidental Billionaires
Rum punch, 9, 17
Breakfast, 26
   Eggs, potatoes, toast, fresh fruit, oatmeal (27)
Apples, 29
Beck's beer, 41, 155
Baloney sandwich, 59
Sloppy Joes, 71
Pizza, 76 
Pork with shallot & ginger confit, 145
Tuna tartar, 145
Lobster stew with ginger and wine, 145
Foie gras in shrimp dumplings, 145
Ice cream, 145, 148
Jack Daniels, 157
Champagne, 160, 164

Movies mentioned in The Accidental Billionaires
Animal House
Towering Inferno, 202

Books/Authors mentioned in The Accidental Billionaires
J.R.R. Tolkien, 33
Honore de Balzac, 41
The Crimson (Harvard newspaper)

Music mentioned in The Accidental Billionaires
Reggae, 9
Dr. Dre, 158
Green Day, 169
The Beatles, 197
The Rolling Stones, 205

Famous People mentioned in The Accidental Billionaires
Larry Summers, 38, 125
John Lithgow, 236
Salvador Dali, 250

Libraries mentioned in The Accidental Billionaires
Pages 19, 21, 58, 64, 120, 219, 236

                                                        
                                                   

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Between a Rock and a Hard Place


Book Menu for Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

ISBN for edition I read: 0743492811

 This book was adapted into the film 127 Hours starring James Franco. It is really worth reading this wonderfully written book before seeing the film.


Food mentioned in Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Chocolate bars, 2, 14, 37, 80, 87, 120
Burritos, 2, 28, 109, 148
Chocolate muffin, 2, 5
Sandwiches, 37
Ramen Noodle soup, 48
Kippered fish and crackers, 76
Macaroni and cheese, 80
Turkey on crackers, 80, 130
Stolichnaya vodka, 84
Gatorade, 118, 184, 239
Lentil stew, 122
Oysters, 130
Hummus, 130
Clams, 130
Hot cocoa and Schnapps, 130
Grapefruit, 163
Oranges, 163, 212
Burgers, 175, 216
Beer, 175
Fruit roll-up, 130
Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, 205
Popsicle, 212
Margaritas, 212, 232, 234, 334, 338-9
Tangerine, 212
Slurpees, 213
Milkshakes, 216, 232
Strawberry Daquiri, 232
Grapefruit juice, 232
Budweiser, 232, 234
7Up, 233, 241
Sun tea, 234
Sake, 234
Oreos, 315
Pancakes, 332
Chocolate cake, 333

Music mentioned in Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Phish, 3-4, 16, 93, 129, 204, 208, 245
Pink Floyd, 154
Guns 'n Roses, 188
Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, 276
Jerry Garcia Band, 332
Trey Anastasio, 339
String Cheese Incident, 339-340

Movies mentioned in Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Pulp Fiction, 51
Jurassic Park 2, 53
The Edge, 53
Austin Powers, 66, 188, 274
Groundhog Day, 189
Fight Club, 273
Temple of Doom, 300

Books mentioned in Between a Rock and a Hard Place
The Odyssey / Homer , first epigraph
Desert Solitaire: a Season in the Wilderness / Edward Abbey, 1, 54, 185
Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau / Edward Abbey, 15
Into the Wild / John Krakauer, 73
Into Thin Air / John Krakauer, 74
Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills, 74
Goethe, 97, 249
Mark Twight, 114, 286
   Kiss or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber
The Monkey Wrench Gang / Edward Abbey
It's not about the Bike / Lance Armstrong




Thursday, February 10, 2011

True Grit


Book Menu for True Grit by Charles Portis

Version I read: hardcover by Simon and Schuster, no ISBN listed
   (c1968, 215 pages)

Now also a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. The film adaptation is good but I am not sure it warrants 12 Oscar nominations.  I loved the book and think it may have been my very first Western!

Food mentioned in True Grit:
Spare Ribs, 17
Parched peanuts, 18
Fudge, 18
Hot tomales, 18
Coffee, 24, 59, 80, 86, 129, 152, 175
Cheese and crackers, 25, 36 (Hoop cheese)
Chicken and dumplings, 25
Grits and fried eggs, 28
Apples, 36, 80
Boiled Potato and Stew meat, 59
Buttermilk, 59, 165
Lemonade, 59
Honey cakes, 60 (with butter and preserves)
Taffy, 93, 117, 138
Bacon and biscuit sandwiches, 99, 102, 118, 174
Wedge of cheese, 99
Dried peaches, 99
Grits, 102
Catfish, 112
Gingerbread, 113, 118
Corn dodgers, 117, 129
Sofky, 125, 147, 152
Coca cola, 221

Music mentioned in True Grit:
Amazing Grace, 18
Beulah Land (Hymn) , 100 
Soldiers Joy, 155
Johnny in the Low Ground, 155
The Eighth of January, 155

Famous People mentioned in True Grit:
Judge Isaac Parker, 38
Grover Cleveland, 41
Jesse James, 140

Misc.:
 Age of main character: 14

Setting: Fort Smith , Arkansas (late 19th century)

Told in the 1st person point of view

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Saturday, February 5, 2011

Rabbit Hole

 

Book Menu for Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire

ISBN of the version I read: 9781559362900 (paperback)

This play also has a film adaptation starring Nicole Kidman.

Food mentioned in Rabbit Hole:
Birthday cake, 51
Biscotti, 128
Champagne, 140
Cinnamon Buns, 122
Creme Caramel, 14-16, 27-28, 30
Fruit Roll-ups, 105
Lemon Squares, 130, 149
Olive Loaf, 103
Orange Juice, 5
Torte, 90
Zuccinni Bread, 149, 152

Movies mentioned in Rabbit Hole:
Pride and Prejudice

Music mentioned in Rabbit Hole:
Greatest Hits, 37, 44

Books/Authors mentioned in Rabbit Hole:
Bleak House (Charles Dickens), 118, 135
David Copperfield (Charles Dickens), 135
Charles Dickens, 119
Madame Bovary (Penguin Classics) (Gustave Flaubert), 121
The Runaway Bunny (Margaret Wise Brown), 46, 146 

Miscellaneous:
Greek myth, Orpheus and Eurydice, 142